Can some one help and point me in the right direction. Im looking for some studio lighting. Maybe a temp setup like Novatron makes. I just dont know were to begin. I want a light with softbox in the front and maybe one more light to put behind the subjects. Maybe a 3 light strobe setup. I just dont know were to go to find a system.

Ouch the prices are crazy for these units. Im wondering how good two nikon sb 700 with pocket wizards would be and how they would be? I already have light stands and the flash adapters with umbrellas. Would just need two pocket wizard flex and one mini and two speed lights.

After thinking about the cost of all that its up in the same price as portable studio lighting.

What I want is to be able to set some small lights up when doing my kids and family. A portable set would be nice. My budget for used stuff would be aboue $600. I would like two lights and the box that controls them. I went to a friends photgraphy studio and he has a 6' softbox in the front and had a regular flash in the back and took some pics of my kids. The affect with the light behind them was awesome. I want a system like that. So either 2 or 3 lights. Need everything but the wireless triggers. Anything out there for that price range?

Idle0095 wrote:
What I want is to be able to set some small lights up when doing my kids and family. A portable set would be nice. My budget for used stuff would be aboue $600. I would like two lights and the box that controls them. I went to a friends photgraphy studio and he has a 6' softbox in the front and had a regular flash in the back and took some pics of my kids. The affect with the light behind them was awesome. I want a system like that. So either 2 or 3 lights. Need everything but the wireless triggers. Anything out there for that price range?...Show more →

Better to have one good light with one good modifier (softbox, octobox, etc.) than three bad lights. You can do a lot with one good light, and you can add more lights later as your budget allows. Until you get more lights, you can use variations in background color, use reflector panels, use window light plus strobe, etc. for various types of lighting.

Alien Bees (made in USA) and Elinchrom D-lite (made in Switzerland) are about the best bargains out there that get you enough control of power levels, reliability, and customer service to be worth the money you spend. Bowens also makes good lights.

I'd shop at reputable dealers who have been in business for a while, so that if you have problems you have somewhere to turn: Paul C Buff (direct seller of his gear), B&H Photo, Adorama, etc. With eBay and Amazon I think you're taking more of a risk.

While you're sorting out your choices, here's something that may help you along the way:

Idle0095 wrote:
...I would like two lights and the box that controls them.

By the way, you can get either wired (cheaper) or wireless (more convenient) controlers for many of the strobes mentioned here, but it isn't mandatory to have them. Dialing in the power using the dial, lever, or buttons on the unit itself only takes moments, and once set you can use that setting for several shots.

The bigger question is how you trigger the light(s) in sync with the camera. You can use a sync cord between the camera and the closest light, and trigger the other lights (if used) from the flash of the first one; you can use a radio trigger on the camera to trip a receiver on one light, and trigger the other lights (if used) from the flash of the first one; or you can use a radio trigger on the camera to trip radio receivers on all the lights. The main reason to choose one way over the other ways is budget.

If you choose the Elinchrom D-lite it ( for "intelligent triggering") you can even trip it with the built-in flash on your camera, because it can be programmed to ignore the pre-flashes that almost all built-in flashes emit.

"Intelligent triggering" isn't necessary, as the built-in flash on most (if not all) camera's can be set to manual mode to eliminate the pre-flash. Using the built-in flash (in manual mode) to trigger the other lights should work fine in a small indoor area.

BigIronCruiser wrote:
...the built-in flash on most (if not all) camera's [sic] can be set to manual mode to eliminate the pre-flash.

Sorry, but I don't think that's correct. Many Canon cameras always fire a preflash when the pop-up is used, as they don't have a Manual mode that I'm aware of: EOS 10D through 50D, Rebels up through and including the T1i, etc.

Even when one can set Manual flash, it isn't always desirable to do so if you're changing camera-to-subject distances frequently.

Lastly, using a D-Lite along with one or more Slave Speedlites is possible using the pop-up as Master, and that requires pre-flashes for command and control, even if the pop-up is set not to fire for exposure.

Your D700 is a very capable camera, and the built-in flash can be configured to manual mode using menu option e3. By setting the output level to its lowest level, it can trigger the studio strobes without significantly influencing the overall exposure.

Wireless triggers are terrific, but you'll have to part with some serious $$ to get name brand proucts like PW and RP. The folks at PW did a pretty good job with their Flex/Mini line of products, particularly since they offer options (more $$) that can control speedlights, Einsteins, Alien Bee's, and Elinchrom RX units.

IMO, the best advice has already been given: AB400's. Alternatively, there are a couple of AB800's for sale right now on the Buy Sell forum. These things usually sell fast, so don't drag your feet.